Meet this group of women who are extreme savers

If someone told you that it’s possible to save more than 70 per cent on your supermarket shopping, you would probably say it is a gimmick. However, for some women in Nairobi, it is a secret that they have fine-tuned and made part of their shopping routine. They go home from their shopping trips with smiles on their faces and some extra change in their wallets.

Some people may consider the lengths these women go to as extreme, but they say the alternative is not something they would consider any more. The alternative, they say, is the murky waters so many Kenyans find themselves in during these hard times...looking regretfully at receipts from the supermarket and accepting once again that the total has left a huge dent in their budget.

Group shopping

One of these women is Wangare Gakuo,27, a stay-at-home-mom. When she got married to Lawrence Gitau, a police officer in 2010, she found that the most challenging part about managing her household was working within the shopping budget they had carefully set aside with her husband. She had quit her job when she was about four months pregnant.

“We used to set aside about Sh10,000 for our monthly shopping, which was never enough. In the middle of the month, I would find myself going to buy items, which I had run out of,” says the mother of one.

Wangare says as much as she tried to ensure that the shopping lasted the month according to her budget, it just did not work and she would be forced to part with some extra money.

“It was not easy for us financially since my husband had gone back to school,” she says. “Then I came across a closed group on Facebook where one woman was asking if there were women out there willing to come together and start shopping in bulk. I thought that was a good idea and decided to also organise a group of women who were willing to do the same. I felt that it was something that would be of great benefit,” says Wangare.

She says she has made incredible changes after she embraced group shopping.

“Nowadays, I use about Sh8,000 for shopping that lasts me two months. I invest the amount I save. My husband and I plan to buy a plot and build a house and we save some cash towards that every month. I am glad I am able to support him in this,” she says.

Wangare and five other women shop after every two months at a wholesale shop in Eastleigh and says this has enabled them not only to save money, but also time.

“We started some time last year and we were about eight women before two left and we remained six. Basically, we contribute an equal amount of money say Sh6,000 each and set a particular Saturday when we go shopping for home essentials like cooking flour, sugar, cooking oil as well as toiletries,” says Gakuo.

“For those of us with babies, we also buy baby stuff like diapers, baby cereal and other snacks. We distribute then distribute the stuff equally among ourselves,” she says.

Group shopping also comes in handy for one Lillian Njogu, a mother of two.

“We are a group of four women. Four, because it’s an easily divisible number and it makes it simpler for us to do the math,”she says.

“What inspired me to embrace group shopping is the savings. In the middle of the month, we communicate whether our shopping has run out and agree on a date when to go shopping. It has enabled us save a lot,” she says.

“At first, I didn’t like the idea. I thought it was a bit messy, especially when it comes to distributing some items. But after the second and third round, I discovered what I was missing,” she adds.

Lillian says they shop at Mahitaji Wholesale shop on Mombasa Road. “It is economical because unlike before when I used to go to the supermarket often to buy stuff, the shopping lasts longer and I put the extra money in a savings box. When the time comes for our next shopping and I don’t have money, I just get some from my  box. We also shop for our parents through the group.”

Lillian says her husband sees the benefits that come with it and supports her even more.

“It saves you from the stress of being called by your house girl when you are at work telling you that something has run out and you have to pass by the supermarket to get it,” she says.

Irene Mukonyoro, a mother of two terms group shopping as an amazing experience.

“Lillian and I belong to the same group. Last Saturday was my second time. When I heard of group shopping, I wanted to join one but every time I would find a group that was full or at times I would not be available when the others were. After my first experience, I always drop other plans if there is shopping to be done,” she says.

Irene regrets that before joining the group she would spend as much as Sh25,000 for a month’s shopping. “Sometimes before even the month ended, my house manager would hand me a list of items that were almost running out and that would mean I had to go back to the supermarket afor more items worth almost Sh10,000. In a month, I would spend about Sh35,000,” explains Irene.

Agnes Omany Okelloh, a group shopper and a mother of one says, “The good thing about forming shopping buddies is that it enables you to form a social network where you get to interact with other women. It becomes easier for you to agree and set a date,” she says. “Earlier on, I would prefer buying things in pre-packs, but I have discovered that buying things in bulk is the way to go,” she says. “The money I save goes into an account my husband and I have opened to cater for our daughter’s school fees. For those who haven’t tried this, you are missing a lot,” adds Agnes.

“'Kuraukia marikiti'”

Gertrude Joseph, a mother of three, has embraced another form of shopping that is popular among women. Before she relocated to Kisumu early this year, she was a regular shopper at Marikiti Market.

“I used to go to Marikiti to shop for groceries as early as 4.30am. At that time, the produce is fresh and cheaper,” she says. “I realised I made savings of up to 50 per cent and it would last me for two weeks.”

She carried on with this until she became an expert and decided to start a business of shopping for other women.

“I would do shopping for any woman who was in need and they would pay me 20 per cent of the total cost of the shopping,” she adds.

Since she relocated to Kisumu, Gertrude now shops at Kibuye Market. She offers: “Shopping in bulk is convenient. You are aware of how much you are spending in a month. When you happen to be broke, maybe in the middle of the month, at least you have food in the house.”

Photo: Pius K. Cheruiyot